Mechanically operated magazine pencil



Sept. 13, 1938. G G. COHEN MECHANICALLY OPERATED MAGAZINE PENCIL Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR G. fi'o/iefi ATTORNEY Sept; 13, 1938. G. G. COHEN MECHANICALLY OPERATED MAGAZINE PENCIL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m w m a m a M w m m I HHHI I l lr VI B 6 5 N 8 6 5 M4 4 M W G a e w, P.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13,1938

UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFIcE MECHANICALLY OPERATED MAGAZINE PENCIL mary object of this invention is to provide a me chanically operated magazine pencil in which a plurality of pieces of lead contained within a magazine may be fed successively through the pencil as they are used without necessitating the manual handling of such pieces of lead.

Another primary object of the invention is to provide a magazine pencil of this nature having a readily detachable magazine which is not expensive in construction and is adapted to be discarded when empty and replaced by another magazine containing a fresh supply of pieces of lead.

Ordinary mechanical pencils require that the pieces of lead be inserted by hand either directly into the pencil or into magazines provided in the pencil. This means that the leads, which are usually black or colored and which are liable to soil the fingers, must be handled by hand in re- 2o loading the pencils. In pencils of this type it is common practice to insert a lead each time one is used up. The present invention does away with the necessity of handling the leads by, providing a magazine which may be discarded and replaced by a fresh one when the supply of leads is exhausted and by providing pencil mechanism which may be quickly and easily manipulated to feed a fresh piece of lead into operative position in the pencil when a previously used piece of lead .is used up.

It is a further object of my invention to provide novel and eificient lead propelling mechanism'embodying lead carrying devices by which pieces of lead are moved forwardly, which lead carrying devices embody a resiliently supported hook member adapted to engage behind a piece of lead which is being moved toward the pencil writing tip, said hook member having an inclined upper end portion adapted to engage With the end portion of a 4:) piece of lead positioned above said lead carrying devices and blocked against upward movement,

whereby when upward movement is imparted to the lead propelling devices said hook member will be deflected outwardly and caused to slide upwardly past said piece of lead to a position where it may engage with the upper end of said piece of lead.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for separating the adjacent ends of two pieces of lead by deflecting the end of one of said pieces of lead sidewise to obtain clearance and permit a lead propelling member to engage behind the end of the other piece of lead.

Further objects of the invention are to provide I .an automatic mechanical pencil which is strong and sturdy in construction and reliable and efficient in operation even though the mechanical parts of the pencil are relatively small; to provide a mechanical pencil which is not expensive to manufacture; to provide a mechanical pencil 5 in which wear on the parts of the pencil and scraping, chipping and breaking of the pieces of lead is reduced to a minimum, thus reducing the danger of the parts, jamming and insuring long life for the pencil; to provide a repeating pencil 10 which is effective to both propel and retract the lead at the writing tip and is at the same time effective to feed a succession of pieces of lead from the magazine to the writing tip; and to provide a pencil of this type which is relatively small in size 15 and is not necessarily larger in diameter than the usual wooden jacketed lead pencil.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together with others inherent in the same,

are attained by the device illustrated in the fol- 20 lowing drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a me- 25 chanical pencil constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the pencil housing, magazine and writing tip showing these three parts in exploded relation; 30

Figs. 3 and 4 are detached views in elevation showing two diametrically opposite sides of a slotted tube embodied in the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale substantially on broken line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detached perspective views of two spring members used in connection with the slotted tube shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of a cam collar used in connection with the slotted tube shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 9 is a detached elevation of a resilient cam sleeve adapted for use on the slotted tube shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view substantially on 1;; broken line |0!U of Fig. 9 of said cam sleeve;

Fig. 11 is a detached elevation of a spirally grooved member used in the pencil for propelling and retracting the lead holding and lead feeding mechanism. 50

Figs. 12 and 13 are detached elevations of a lead carrying device embodied in the invention;

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are somewhat diagrammatic detached views partly in elevation and partly in section, and with parts omitted and other parts 55 partially broken away, of the lead feeding mechanism and a plurality of leads showing the parts in various operative positions.

In the drawings |1 designates a tubular housing member which is internally threaded at its upper end for the reception of the externally threaded lower end of a magazine l8 wherein a plurality of pieces of lead l9 may be stored. An opening 2|] permits leads to discharge, one at a time from the bottom end of the magazine |8 into suitable mechanism within the pencil housing. The opening 20 is centrally positioned and the end wall of the magazine preferably is dished to provide a somewhat flattened conical shape tapering toward the opening 20 to facilitate the feeding of pieces of lead toward the opening 29.

Lead holding and feeding mechanism is provided for insertion into the pencil housing |1. This mechanism comprises a slotted tube 2|, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, having an upper end portion 22 and a lower end portion 23 both of smaller external diameter than the main body portion of the tube. The size of the main body portion of the tube provides sufficient space for the movement of the hook 46 hereinafter discussed. A longitudinal slot 24 of a size sufiieiently small to prevent escapement of a lead therethrough extends from the lower end of the tube 2| to the upper end thereof. A lead blocking spring 25 is positioned within the slot 24 at the location of the upper end portion 22 of the tube. The upper end portion of the lead-blocking spring 25 is fixedly secured, preferably by brazing or welding the same, to the upper end portion of the tube. This fixedly secured portion is designated by 26 in Figs. 1 and 3. Preferably the spring 25 is of reduced cross sectional area adjacent the fixed portion 26 to substantially limit the flexing on a fulcrum determined by such reduced cross sectional area. The lower end portion of the lead blocking spring 25 is provided with an outwardly curved portion 21, see Figs. 1, 6, 14, 15 and 16. This outwardly curved portion 21 is adapted to be engaged by a resilient cam 28 provided within a slotted sleeve 29 to press the lower end of the lead blocking spring 25 into the lead channel of the tube 2| and crowd the lower end portion of a piece of lead l9 sidewise out of said lead channel, as shown in Fig. 16, provided the pieces of lead are in a predetermined position. The resilient cam 28 is moved into engagement with the outwardly curved portion 21 of the lead blocking spring 25 by retractile turning movement of the lead carrying parts of the pencil and is moved into a disengaged position relative to the outwardly curved portion 21 when the lead carrying parts are turned in the proper relative directions to propel the lead forwardly, as hereinafter set forth. Another slot 30 of a width large enough to permit a piece of lead l9 to be passed therethrough is formed in the upper end portion 22 of the tube 2| diametrically opposite to the slot 24, see Fig. 5. The lower end of the slot 30 terminates below the end of the blocking spring 25. A flat spring 3|, Figs. 4 and 5, overlies the slot 30. Theupper end portion of the spring 3| is secured as by welding or brazing the same to the upper end portion of the tube 2| and the remainder of said spring is left unrestrained so that it may be deflected outwardly as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, to permit the lower end portion of a piece of lead |9 to be pushed sidewise through the slot 33 and out of the lead channel. A stop member 32 rigid with the tube 2| limits ,to said slotted tube.

the sidewise movement of the lower end portion of the spring 3|.

A spirally slotted member 33, Figs. 1 and 11, is rotatably mounted on the slotted tube 2| and fits within the housing I1. The member 33 has a spiral slot 34 therein extending spirally of the member 33 from the lowermost end thereof to a point a short distance from the upper end. The upper end portion of the spirally slotted member 33 above the spiral slot 34 is of slightly smaller external diameter than the remainder of said member 33 and the lowermost end portion of the sleeve 29 fits snugly over and frictionally engages this upper end portion. The upper end portion of the spirally slotted member 33 abuts against a cam collar 35 which is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the slotted tube 2| at the location where the smaller upper end portion 22 of said tube connects with the larger medial portion thereof. The lower end portion of the spirally slotted member 33 abuts against ashoulder 36 in a pencil tip member 31. The pencil tip member 31 has a bore which fits tightly onto the smaller lower end portion 23 of the slotted tube 2|, see Figs. 1 and 3, and secures the pencil tip 31 to the tube 2|. The collar 35 and tip member 31 thus serve to hold the spirally slotted member 33 in assembled relation on the slotted tube 2|.

A lug 38 on the lower end portion of the spirally slotted member 33 fits into a groove 39 in the housing |1, thus securing the spirally slotted member 33 against rotation relative to the housing l1 and leaving the slotted tube 2| free to rotate within thespirally slotted member 33. By grasping the tip member 31 with one hand and the housing l1 with the other hand the tube 2| and spirally slotted member 33 may be relatively rotated. Thus, in this form of the invention, I have shown parts which may be manually operated in a manner similar to mechanical pencils now commonly on the market, but it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to any such specific form.

The cam sleeve 29 fits rotatably over the smaller upper end portion of the spirally slotted member 33 and said cam sleeve 29 is internally provided with a stop lug 40 positioned relatively closely above a horizontal shoulder 4| on the cam collar 35 and adapted to be engaged by either one of two upright shoulders 42 and 43 on the cam collar 35. The cam collar 35 is shown detached in Fig. 8. The cam collar 35 is secured to the slotted tube 2| and serves to limit the angular movement of the cam sleeve 29 relative When the slotted tube 2| and spirally slotted member 33 are relatively rotated in the correct direction to propel the pieces of lead outwardly through the pencil tip, the collar 35 will permit sufficient rotary movement of the cam sleeve 29 relative to the slotted tube 2| to move the resilient cam 28 clear of the outwardly curved portion 21 of the lead blocking,

spring 25, thus permitting said spring 25 to assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 14. When the slotted tube 2| and member 33 are relatively rotated in the proper direction to retract the piece of lead at the writing tip, the cam sleeve 29 and tube 2| will be relatively rotated into a position in which the resilient cam 28 engages with the outwardly curved portion 21 and exerts a force tending to press the spring 25 into a lead blocking position within the tube 2|, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. 'It is to be noted that the pieces of lead l9 shown in Figs. 1, 14,15 and 16 rnoved into lead blocking position.

must be in a position with their ends adjacent the lowermost end of the spring 25 before the lowermost end of one of said pieces of lead can be deflected sidewise and the lead blocking spring If the tube 2| and spirally slotted member 33 are relatively rotated in a proper direction to retract the lead at the pencil tip when the pieces of lead are in a position, for instance, as shown in Figure 1, the piece of lead l9 engaged by the lead blocking spring 25 will not be deflected sidewise and the lead blocking spring 25 will not enter the lead channel but the resilient cam 28 will be flexed outwardly merely exerting a resilient pressure on I curved portion 21 of the lead blocking spring 25,

causing only a light pressure on the side of the lead 9. This will not displace the lead |9 because of its position relative to the slot 30.

A lead carrying member, illustrated in Figs. 1, 14, 15 and 16 and shown detached in Figs. 12 and 13, is slidably disposed within the slotted tube 2|. This lead carrying member comprises a longitudinally slotted tubular sleeve 44 of thin resilient metal slidable within the slotted tube 2|. A spring member 45 has its lower end portion secured to the slotted sleeve 44. The spring member 45 is preferably of reduced cross sectional area adjacent the position of attachment with the sleeve 44, asshown, which substantially limits the flexing of such spring member to a fulcrum determined thereby. The spring member 45 is positioned within the slot 24 in the tube 2| and is movable longitudinally within said slot 24. The spring member 45 extends a substantial distance above the upper end portion of the lead gripping sleeve 44, and terminates at its upper end in a hook member 46 which is resiliently and yieldingly supported by the spring 45 and is normally positioned within the lead channel in engagement with the upper end of a piece of lead and forming a positive support for said piece of lead. The uppermost portion of the hook 45 has an inclined or rounded surface 4'! thereon which is adapted to deflect the hook member 46 outwardly into a position as illustrated in Fig. 15 when said hook member is moved upwardly against the end of a piece of lead which is blocked against retractile movement by the lead blocking spring 25. The spring 45 yieldingly urges hook member 41 with sufiicient pressure so that leads above said hook member 4'! will be moved upwardly therewith, unless the lead blocking spring 25 is alined in the lead channel in the slotted tube 2| and blocks the lead therebelow, as shown in Fig. 15. Preferably the portion of the inclined or rounded surface 41, which engages with and slides on the sides of the pieces of lead, is shaped so that the hook 46 will not dig into the pieces of lead in the event said hook is moved in a downward direction over the pieces of lead. The depth of the slot 24 is determined by the size of the expanded central portion of the slotted tube 2|. This depth of the slot 24 is sufiicient so that the hook member 45 will not contact spirally slotted member 33. A lug 48 on the spring member 45 extends outwardly through slot 24 into the spiral slot 34 of the member 33. The lug 48 follows the spiral slot 34 when the slotted tube 2| and spirally slotted member 33 are rotated relative to each other. The spirally slotted member 33 and slotted tube 2| thus function as a movement imparting means for moving the lead carrying member longitudinally of the slotted tube 2|. The lead gripping sleeve 44 preferably has 'a longitudinally extending slot 49 extending from end to end thereof, see Fig. 12, which renders said lead gripping tube more resilient for the purpose of frictionally gripping pieces of lead I9, which pieces may vary slightly in size. This lead gripping tube 44 is also preferably provided with a short slot 50 (see Figs. 1, 14, 15 and 16) to provide local resiliency for the purpose of obtaining the desired relatively light frictional engagement between the lead gripping tube 44 and a piece of lead. This short slot 50 is preferably positioned in the lower end portion of the lead gripping tube 44 and substantially opposite to the slot 49 and permits gripping action relative to a very short portion of a piece of lead. The upper end portion of the lead gripping sleeve 44 is preferably formed with an integral resilient lip 5| positioned diametrically opposite to the spring member 45 and bearing lightly against the wall of the slotted tube 2|. This lip 5|, when unrestrained by the tube 2| will assume a position as shown in Figs. 12, 14, 15 and 16, and when the lead gripping tube 44 is in the tube 2| the lip 5|, as shown in Figure 1, will always press lightly against the wall of the tube 2|, thus insuring that the ends of the pieces of lead l9 will be guided smoothly into the lead gripping tube 44 without danger of binding or jamming,

In the operation of this pencil the lead holding and propelling mechanism is assembled on and within the slotted tube 2| and this assembled mechanism is inserted into the bore of the hous ing l1 and positioned so that the upper end portion of the pencil tip 3'! abuts against the lower end portion of the housing Frictional engagement of the spirally slotted member 33 within the housing I! and of the lug 38 within the groove 39 is suflicient to maintain the lead holding and propelling mechanism in assembled relation within the housing ll. Obviously, other means, not shown, may be provided for positively securing these parts in assembled relation. if desired.

When the parts are assembled, as above described, and a magazine I8, having pieces of lead therein, is properly connected with the upper end portion of the housing ll, the tip of the upper end portion 22 of the slotted tube 2| will project into a recess 52 in the end of the magazine l8 and the lead receiving channel of the slotted tube 2| will be correctly positioned in alignment with the opening 20 in the magazine so that pieces of lead |9 from the magazine l8 may feed by gravity down into the lead channel of the slotted tube 2|. The first or lowermost piece of lead will first engage with and rest upon the inclined upper end 41 of the hook member 46, as shown in Fig. 14. If said hook member 46 with the piece of lead 29 resting thereon, is positioned near enough to the writing tip of the pencil so that the upper end of the piece of lead I9 is slightly below the lower end of the lead blocking spring 25, as shown in Fig. 14, then relative rotary movement of the spirally slotted member 33 and slotted tube 2| in a direction calculated to retract the lead holding devices will cause the resilient cam 28 to move the lead blocking spring 25 into a blocking position, at the same time crowding the lower end portion of the piece of lead which lies alongside of the spring 25 to one side. Further rotary movement in a retractile direction of these devices will cause the inclined portion 4'! of the hook member 46 to be thrust against the lowermost end of the piece of lead l9 thus blocked against upward movement and the hook member 46 will be deflected outwardly and will slide upwardly along the side of-the piece of lead. Before the lead carrying device 444546 reaches its uppermost position, the slotted lead gripping sleeve 44 will telescope over the lowermost end of the piece of lead. When said lead carrying device reaches its uppermost position, the hook member 46 will be a short distance above the lowermost end of the lead blocking spring 25. If the lead carrying device 444546 is then moved downwardly the lowermost piece of lead will be carried downwardly along with it, the hook member 46 will move into a position above the upper end of said lowermost piece of lead and the next succeeding piece of lead will follow the hook member downwardly until the upper end of this second piece of lead is below the lower end of the lead blocking spring 25. Subsequent retractile movement of the lead carrying device 44-45-46 will first move the end of the lead blocking spring 25 into blocking position behind the second piece of lead, as shown in Fig. 15. Further retractile movement will deflect the hook member 46 sidewise into a position as shown in Fig. 15, and still further retractile movement will cause said hook member 46 to move upwardly along said second piece of lead until it reaches a position above the upper end of said second piece of lead where it will be ready to take up a position behind or above the upper end of said second piece of lead (as shown in Fig. 16) as soon as the lead carrying device 444546 is again moved in a downward or lead propelling direction. This upward movement of the lead carrying device, while the second piece of lead is blocked by the spring 25, will result in the lowermost piece of lead being held non-movable by the second piece of lead, while the slotted lead gripping sleeve 44 is moved upwardly over said two pieces of lead, leaving the lowermost piece of lead l9 projecting below the lower end of the lead gripping sleeve 44 as shown in Fig. 16, with just enough of its upper end portion gripped by the lead gripping sleeve to provide a firm hold on said lowermost piece of lead for the purpose of propulsion and retraction of the same relative to the tip member 31. As the lead carrying member with two pieces of lead therein is moved downwardly from the uppermost position shown in Fig. 16, the lowermost piece of lead will be projected outwardly from the tip member 31 into a writing position substantially as shown in Figure 1, and this piece of lead, during its use, may be propelled and retracted in the usual manner. During the time the lowermost piece of lead is being used a third piece of lead will rest upon the in.

clined portion 41 of the hook member 46 as shown in Figure 1. This third piece of lead will move downwardly by gravity following the hook member in its downward movement. As long as the lower end of this third piece of lead is positioned below the lower end of the slot 30, this third piece of lead cannot be deflected sidewise and retractile movements of the lead carrying dewice444549, such as are found necessary to adjust the writing tip of the lead in use, will only bring about flexing of the resilient cam member 28 and the resiliently pressing of the lead blocking spring 25 against the side of this third piece of lead, but Without deflecting said third piece of lead sidewise or interfering with the operation of the pencil. Also when in such position, this third piece of lead will be moved upwardly by the hook member 46 when the lead carrying device 44- 4546 is moved upwardly to retract the lead at the writing tip.

By the time the lowermost piece of lead is almost-used up and the lead carrying devices have been moved into substantially their lowermost position, the upper end of this third piece of lead will be below the end of the lead blocking spring 25. If the lead carrying devices are then retracted or moved upwardly to the limit of their upward movement, the tubular lead gripping sleeve 44 .will be moved out of enagement with the stub of lead which is to be discarded and will be moved into the proper gripping position relative to the second and third pieces of lead. Subsequent downward movement of the lead holding devices will position the hook member 46 behind the upper end of the third piece of lead, eject the used stub of the first piece of lead, provided said stub does not drop free of the pencil tip 31, and bring the second piece of lead down into the proper position for writing.

By operating in the manner above set forth, causing relative rotary motion between the slotted tube 2| and spirally slotted member 33 first completely in one direction and then completely in the other direction. it is possible to successively feed out through the pencil tip 31 leads from the magazine l8 one after another. The lead carrying device moving back and forth between the maximum upward or retracted position and the maximum downward or lead propelling position, in conjunction with the lead blocking spring 25, will cause said device to automatically receive a fresh piece of lead each time it is moved from the lowermost position to the uppermost position and move a previously picked up piece of lead into position for writing use, when it is again moved downwardly.

It will be noted that the part of member 33 forming the upper edge of the spiral slot 34 is made flat and without pitch for approximately one hundred eighty degrees at the lowermost end of the member 33. This flattened portion is indicated by 34 in Fig. 11. This flattened portion 34 provides for substantially one-half of one complete revolution of the slotted tube 2| relative to the spirally slotted member 33 without any corresponding longitudinal movement of the lead carrying device. This relative rotary movement without longitudinal movement of the lead carrying device 44-4546 is desirable as it enables the resilient cam 28 to move against the lead blocking spring 25 before any upward movement takes place of the pieces of lead l9 below the end of the lead blocking spring. As retractile movement first causes the cam 28 to engage with blocking spring 25 and tends to urge said spring 25 into blocking position, there will be no upward movement of the leads until after the blocking devices have been actuated. In the event that the ends of the leads [9 are in the position shown in Fig. 14, the blocking spring will immediately function. In the event of shorter pieces of lead, the hook portion 46 will move the leads 19 thereabove upwardly until adjacent ends of leads may be displaced and the upper end of the lower lead blocked by the spring 25. The end of the flattened portion 34 may also terminate in such a manner as to leave a positive stop shoulder 33' for the lug 48.

The normal shaking movement which a pencil receives will ordinarily be sumcient to cause the pieces of lead to feed downwardly into the tube 2|.

The hook member 46 being positioned behind the end of the, piece of lead next above the piece which is being used will serve as a positive thrust resisting device preventing slippage. of the lead due to downward pressure on the pencil. 1

When the supply of pieces of lead in a magazine I8 is exhausted, the magazine will usually be unscrewed from the pencil and replaced by a new magazine filled with pieces of 1ead. These replacement magazines constitute a new articleof manufacture which are supplied independently of the pencils. The provision of these replacement magazines forms a very convenient and easy way of supplying the leads, provides with each magazine a supply of leads suilicient to last for a long period of time and obviates the necessity of handling the leads singly with the fingers. Prcierably-the pieces of lead are made of a predetermined length. However, it is possible to use pieces of lead shorter than this predetermined length successfully and without jamming or interfering with the successful operation of this pencil. If a piece of lead becomes-broken into two or more pieces these shortpieceswill Feed through the pencil in the normal way. The hook member 45 will not gouge or scratch or mutilate the leads and the leads are not liable to become broken in the pencil.

Obviously, changes may be made'in the-forms, dimensions and arrangement of theparts of my invention, without departing from the-principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; and lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube between said magazine and a piece of lead within said tube. a

2. In a mechanical pencil, a tubularhousing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube between said magazine and a piece of lead within said tube; and lead carrying devices comprising a resilient lead holding sleeve movable within said tube into frictionallyengaged telescopic relation relative to a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and "adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube between said magazine and a piece of lead within said tube: and lead carrying devices comprising a resilient lead holding sleeve movable within said tube into frictionally engaged telescopic relation relative to a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means, and hook means positioned for engagement with the upper end portion of a piece of lead.

4:111 a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube between said magazine and a piece of lead within said tube; and lead carrying devices. comprising a resilient lead holding sleeve movablewithin said tube into frictionally, en-

gaged telescopic relation relative to a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means, and hook means positioned for engagement with the upper end portion of a piece of lead held within said lead holding sleeve.

5. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; lead blocking -means movable into said slotted tube between saidmagazine and a piece of lead within said tube; and lead carrying devices comprising a resilient lead holding sleeve movable within said tube into frictionally engaged telescopic relation relative to a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means, and hook means positioned for engagement with the upper end portion of a piece of lead held within said lead holding sleeve, said hook means. being resiliently supported and having an inclined upper end portion adapted to engage the end of a piece of lead positioned above said hook means and supported by said lead blocking means, whereby said hook member will be deflected to one side of the piece of lead as the lead carrying devices are moved upwardly.

6. In a. mechanical pencil, a pencil housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said pencil housing; a hook movable into said tube into engagement with a piece of lead therein, said hook member being longitudinally movable back and forth in said tube; and adapted to engage with the end portion of a piece of lead and provide longitudinal pressure againstthe same during one direction of its travel and said hook having an inclined upper end adapted to provide sliding contact with, but without damage to a piece of lead during the other direction of its travel; and resilient means urging said hook member into said slotted tube during longitudinal movement in either direction and against a piece of lead therein.

7. In a mechanical-pencil, a pencil housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said pencil housing; a lead carrying device movable longitudinally of said slottedtube; a hook member disposed on said lead carrying device, said hook member adapted to engage with the end portion of a piece of lead and provide longitudinal pressure against the same during one direction of its travel and said hook member having an inclined upper end adapted to provide sliding contact with, but without damage to a piece of lead during the other direction of its travel; and resilient means urging said hook member into said tube and against a piece of lead therein.

8. In a mechanical pencil, a tube providing a longitudinal lead channel normally maintaining pieces of leadtherein in end to end relation, said tube having'a transverse opening therein; lead blocking means operatively positioned as respects said opening in said tube and movable into lead blocking position as respects one of two leads which. are positioned in' end to end relation; resilient means normally supporting said lead blocking means in inoperative position; and means moving said lead blocking means into operative position.

9. In a mechanical pencil, a tube providing a longitudinal lead channel normally maintaining pieces of lead therein in end to end relation, said tube having a transverse opening therein; lead blocking means operatively positioned as respects said openingin said tube and movable into lead blocking position as respects one of two leads which are positioned in end to end relation; and lead blocking means operating devices moving said lead blocking means into and out pf lead blocking position.

10. In a mechanical pencil, means providing a lead channel normally maintaining .pieces of lead therein in end to end relation; lead blocking means operatively positioned as respects said lead channel and movable into lead blocking position to displace the leads from such end to'e'nd relation; and lead blocking means operating devices moving said lead blocking means into "and out of lead blocking position.

11. In a mechanical pencil, a tube providing a longitudinal lead channel normally maintaining pieces of lead therein in end to end registration, said tube having a transverse opening therein; lead blocking means operatively positioned as respects said opening in said tube and movable into said lead channel to transversely displace adjacent ends of two pieces of lead and block longitudinal movement in one direction of one of said pieces of lead; and lead blocking means moving devices moving said lead blocking means into and out of lead blocking position.

12. In a mechanical pencil, a tube providing a longitudinal lead channel having pieces of lead therein in end to end relation; lead blocking means operatively positioned for movement into lead blocking position as respects one of two leads which are in end to end relation; lead moving means movable longitudinally of said blocked lead and toward said blocked end thereof; lead blocking means moving devices; and movement imparting means common to both said lead blocking means moving devices and said lead moving means providing when in one position lost motion as respects said lead moving means, whereby said lead blocking means is operated in advance of movement of said lead moving means.

13. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping member movable over a piece of lead to frictionally grip the same; and a hook member resiliently connected with said lead gripping member positioned to engage with the end of a piece of lead held within said lead gripping member.

14. In a mechanical pencil, a le'adgripping member movable toward and over a piece of lead to frictionally grip the same; and 'a hook member resiliently connected with said lead gripping member and operatively positioned to slidingly pass along a side of a piece of lead and over an end thereof.

15. In a mechanical pencil, a tube providing a lead channel; a lead blocking member movable into and out of said channel; a sleeve angularly movable as respects the tube; means limiting the angular movement of the sleeve relative to the tube; cam means on the sleeve controlling the operation of the lead blocking member; and means rotatable relative to said tube having frictional engagement with said sleeve for angularly moving said sleeve on said tube.

16. In a mechanical pencil, a housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with the upper end portion of said housing; a tubular guide member positioned within said housing communicating with said magazine and having two oppositely positioned longitudinal slots in the upper end portion, one of said slots being wider than the diameter of a piece of lead; resilient means providing a yielding wall at the location of said wide slot; a resiliently supported lead blocking member operative through the other discharge opening in said magazine and having a longitudinal slot; a lead carrying device comprising a lead receiving sleeve slidably mounted in said tube and a resilient member secured to said sleeve and slidably positioned in said slot;

a hook on the upper end portion of said resilient member the upper portion of said hook being inclined, said hook being normally positioned in said tube and being movable outwardly by engagement of said inclined end portion thereof with the end of a piece of lead which is positioned above said hook; a pencil tip secured to the lower end portion of said tube external to said pencil housing; means for moving said lead carrying device longitudinally of said tube in both directions; lead blocking means positioned adjacent the upper end portion of said tube and movable into a lead blocking position into said tube; and lead blocking member moving means operatively connected with said tube.

18. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a magazine for pieces of lead detachably connected with the upper end portion of said housing and having a centrally positioned discharge opening for pieces of lead; a tube positioned axially of said housing and registering with said discharge opening in said magazine and having a longitudinal slot; a lead carrying device comprising a lead receiving sleeve mounted in said tube and a resilient member secured to said sleeve and positioned in said slot; a hook on the upper end portion of said resilient member normally positioned within said tube, the upper end portion of said hook being inclined; a pencil tip secured to the lower end portionof said tube external to said pencil housing; means for moving said lead carrying'device longitudinally in response to relative rotary movement of said tube and said housing; lead blocking means positioned within the slot in said tubeadjacent the upper end portion of said tube and movable into a lead blocking'position within said tube; and resilient cam means operated by relative turning movement in a retractile direction of said tube and said movement imparting member to move said lead blocking member into lead blocking position within said tube.

19. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a magazine for pieces of lead detachably connected with the upper end portion of said housing and having a centrally positioned discharge opening for pieces of lead; a. tube positioned axially of said housing and registering with said discharge opening in said magazine and having a longitudinal slot; a lead carrying device comprising a lead receiving sleeve mounted in said tube and a resilient member secured to said sleeve andpositioned in said slot; a hook on the upper end portion of said resilient member positioned to engage with the end of a piece of lead held within said sleeve, the upper portion of said hook being inclined, whereby said hook will be deflected outwardly when it is moved upwardly against the end of 'a piece of lead; a pencil tip secured to the lower end portion of said tube external to said pencil housing; a movement imparting member secured within said housing and positioned rotatively around said tube and having a spiral slot therein;

means on said lead carrying device operatively positioned in said spiral slot for moving said lead carrying device longitudinally in response to relative rotary movement of said lead carrying device and said movement imparting member; lead blocking means positioned within the slot in said tube adjacent the upper end portion of said tube and movable into a lead blocking position within said tube; and resilient cam means operated by relative turning movement in a retractile direction of said tube and said movement imparting member to move said lead blocking member into lead blocking position within said tube.

20. In a mechanical pencil, means providing a lead pencil maintaining pieces of lead in end to end relation; and a hook member adapted to enter between abutting ends of pieces of lead and engage with the end portion of a piece of lead and provide longitudinal pressure against the same during one direction of its travel and said hook member having an inclined upper end adapted to provide sliding contact with but without damage to a piece of lead during the other direction of its travel.

21. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing; a magazine for pieces of lead connected with said housing and adapted to deliver pieces of lead into the upper end portion of said slotted tube; lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube between said magazine and a piece of lead within said tube; and lead propelling devices comprising means engageable with the upper: end portion of a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means.

22. In a mechanical pencil, a pencil housing; a slotted tube extending longitudinally of said housing providing a channel for pieces of lead; a lead blocking means movable into said slotted tube and blocking upward movement of leads there past; and lead propelling devices comprising means engageable witth the upper end portion of a piece of lead blocked by said lead blocking means.

23. In a mechanical pencil, a lead gripping member movable over a piece of lead to frictionally grip the same; a lead engaging device movable with said lead gripping member and into and out of engagement with the end portion of a piece of lead in said lead gripping member; and means resiliently urging said lead engaging devices into engagement with the end of a piece of lead in the lead gripping device.

GEORGE G. COHEN. 

